In Mr. Young's letter in last week's Manhasset Press, he ruminates about the Flower Hill Village Trustee's work over the past year on the recodification of the village code and voices his complaint that, "one or two dozen (written) responses out of nearly 4,500 village residents" does not represent a "substantial input." Further, he condemns the village officials for, "not actively soliciting input." He then assumes he has made his case for condemning the whole process that has taken many hundreds of volunteer man-hours to put together a draft proposed new village code to be discussed at a series of public meetings to start next month.

The reality of local government is, that very few people ever take the time to respond to any call for suggestions from their local officials. Ninety-nine percent of the time that anyone sits down to write a letter to their government representative, is to complain about something that affects themselves or their personal cause. Worse yet, expecting a response to a call for suggestions in writing usually goes unanswered. A few dozen replies is a pretty good turnout for such heady stuff (recodifying a municipal code); as it turns out, about 60 replies were actually received, according to the written report of the codification committee chair, Norman Glavas, which is now available to residents at the Village Hall. On a rare occasion, someone will take the time to write to show support and/or appreciation for someone or something that someone else has done for them or their community at large.

No such thanks has been penned by Mr. Young. I guess it's the old adage, "No good deed goes unpunished." Instead, he takes a "shot" at the village's attempt to alleviate the most complained about problems in our (and most other) North Shore Village's building codes: 1) the "overbuilding" of existing lots; 2) the renovation of existing homes and commercial buildings without securing a building permit; and 3) the deviation from an approved building permit/plan without refiling a revised plan for approval.

Since 1988, the village has tried to ameliorate these problems by creating a "building permit committee" which tries insofar as they are able, under the present village code, to maintain an orderly construction and renovation program within the village. In 1996, due to the greatly increased amount of such construction within the village, a new building inspector was hired; he was able to spend more time, which was required to assure compliance with the plans filed with the village.

The new code seeks to establish an "architectural review committee." The Village of Munsey Park has had such a committee since almost its founding. Many other villages have either been seriously discussing the formation or have already formed such committees. Mr. Young is correct when he challenges the "legality" of such a committee; rejection by such committees/board have sometimes been overturned in the courts. This is why Flower Hill has resisted such a committee for years. But, as the "overbuilding" increases almost unabated throughout the area, neighbors more and more have been seeking resolution of the change of "character" of their neighborhood, with their local governments. The village code certainly needs to be updated; whether or not the addition of an architectural review committee is also needed is what the village public hearing is all about. There is nothing "secret" going on that Mr. Young has to issue a "call to arms" about. The only ones that have to "worry" about the new code, are those planning to do anything with their own property (such as the three aforementioned most complained about "problems,") which would conflict with the code. Even then, there is always a chance for a resolution through the Village Board of Zoning Appeals: that's far from having to "go to court."

Yes, by all means come to the hearings; nothing is written in stone, it's only a draft. Leave your gun at home; we're all neighbors in the same community, trying valiantly to improve our mutual quality of life.

John W. Walter

Mayor of Flower Hill 1998-1996